1. Welcoming All Families Into the School Community

2. A Vision for New Mexico Schools
Schools that solicit input from families to use in planning action steps.
School staff trained in effective family engagement practices.
Schools that plan for responding to parents’ concerns.
Family Centers staffed with trained and qualified personnel.

3. There are two main goals for Welcoming All Families Into the School Community
Create a welcoming school environment.
Build a respectful, inclusive school community.

4. Welcoming All Families Into the School Community
The school culture strongly impacts family engagement. The goals in this focus area emphasize the importance of creating a welcoming climate and building trusting and respectful relationships with families.

5. Creating a Welcoming Environment
Key Questions to Consider
When families approach the school building they should feel they belong.
Are there opportunities for families to develop relationships and communicate with school staff that serve their children?
Is the atmosphere family-friendly and reflective of the cultures and languages of the community?
Are there many ways to volunteer and participate in children’s education even for parents who may be working two jobs or who don’t speak English or have a car?

6. Build a Respectful, Inclusive School Community
Key Questions to Consider
School policies and programs should reflect and respect the diversity of the families in the community.
Does the school staff work with families to identify and address barriers to involvement (such as differences of income, education, language, and culture)?
Are events open to the whole family and offered at convenient times and places?

7. Resources Toolkit http://nmengaged.com/resources-toolkit/
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE FRAMEWORK FOR FAMILY-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS IN NEW MEXICO
Use these tools to support your work. They are categorized by general resources and each of the six focus areas. They are designed for the following:
Reflection on practice
Inclusion in school websites and newsletters
Use with families and students
Professional development
Planning and implementing an action plan

8. Welcoming All Families Into the School Community
School Level Reflection Rubric for Welcoming All Families Into the School Community
Refer to the School-Level Reflection Rubrics for the areas that you have identified as priorities. These will be helpful in examining what good practices look like and developing ideas for partnership practices and activities as you develop an Action Plan. The School-Level Reflection Rubrics can also be used to monitor progress in reaching goals, designing professional development for school staff, and conducting a school walk-through.
The levels of practice build on each other, assuming that practices in the emerging and professing levels will continue at the next level.

9. How does this Framework Focus Area fit into your Action Plan?

10. Thank you for your time and I look forward to meeting up with you again in Step 2!
NMengaged.com